Senator Ken LaValle Secures $150,000 In Funding To Aid The Fight Against Lyme Disease And Tick-Borne Illness on the East End

August 5, 2014 – Senator Ken LaValle secured $150,000 in state funding to be utilized for fighting Lyme and tick-borne diseases on the East End of Long Island.Senator LaValle, who serves as Co-Chair of the NY Senate Coalition Task Force on Lyme and tick-borne diseases, obtain dedicated operating funds for both Shelter Island and North Haven’s four-poster deer tick programs.

Senator LaValle said, “With the high incidence of these tick-borne illnesses on the East End, we need to work to eradicate the diseases and end the transmission to individuals.I am hopeful that these two pilot programs will be successful.I look forward to working with the Town and Village to monitor these initiatives and the results so we can better develop a long-term effective tick management strategy.”

Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. noted, “The extent and severity of the Lyme disease cases on the East End has escalated to the point of a public health crisis. Senator LaValle and I have been working closely with our municipalities to find the most appropriate management strategies. This funding will allow North Haven and Shelter Island to expand highly successful four-poster programs.”

Senator LaValle serves as a Co-chair of the Senate Coalition Task Force on Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases. The Task Force was successful in securing funding in this year’s state budget, from which the $150,000 was allocated. The Task Force issued a report in June focusing on improving prevention, diagnosis and treatment protocols. Senator LaValle has also made a brochure on Lyme and tick-borne disease information available via his senate web site: www.SenatorLaValle.com